The directors of Walsh Whiskey Distillery are to split the existing drinks brands business, built on the Writers’ Tears and The Irishman Irish whiskeys, from the distillery business at Royal Oak, in County Carlow, Ireland. It follows differences between Irish and Italian directors about “how to develop the combined business into the future”.
Illva Saronno invested €25 million in Walsh Whiskey for a 50% stake in 2013; the company was founded in 1999 by husband and wife, Bernard and Rosemary Walsh.
This change, effective immediately, will result in the Irish directors taking full control of the existing drinks brands business built on the Writers’ Tears and The Irishman premium and super-premium Irish whiskeys. This business will continue to trade under the name Walsh Whiskey, which said in a statement that consumers of these brands “are assured of their uninterrupted availability”.
Current sales, marketing and distilling objectives are being fully met, it noted, adding that the change will occur without redundancies.
Illva Saronno will take full ownership of the distillery, which is renamed Royal Oak Distillery. The company aims to further enhance Royal Oak as a “centre of excellence” in Irish whiskey-making, producing malt, pot and grain styles under one roof, as well as enhancing the visitor experience. As reported, in 2016 Walsh Whiskey opened a new €25 million distillery at the site.
